Cam Maldonado absolutely blew up Funko Field in Everett last night, cranking out three huge home runs and driving in six runs for the Eugene Emeralds. This wasn’t just some big game, though; his second bomb of the night officially pushed him into the exclusive 20-20 club for the season, making him one of baseball’s newest members to notch at least 20 dingers and 20 stolen bases.
Funko Field Turned Into Maldonado’s Personal Launchpad
Heading into the six-game series against the AquaSox in Everett, everyone knew Funko Field had a rep as a real hitter’s paradise. Maldonado apparently got the memo, because he made it look easy. Stepping up as the second batter of the game, he wasted no time, clubbing a two-run homer on a 1-2 pitch way over the left-field wall. Just two innings later, in the top of the third, Maldonado led off with another blast to left on a 2-1 count. That’s the one that sealed his 20-20 mark. But he was nowhere near done. In his very next at-bat in the top of the sixth, he ripped a two-run shot, this time over the right-field wall. He even got one more crack in the ninth to make history, but struck out. Still, a three-homer, six-RBI night? That’s just wild, man.
From San Jose To Everett, This Kid Is On Fire
This kid, a seventh-round pick for the San Francisco Giants in 2025, has been on a tear in his first full pro season. He started the year with Class-A San Jose, where he mashed 14 homers in 70 games. He hit a bump with a dislocated thumb in late June, missing about a month, but came back strong on July 21. Just two weeks later, the Emeralds promoted him to High-A Eugene, and he hasn’t looked back. Since then, he’s slashing an insane .333 with 7 homers and a 1.193 OPS in just 15 games! The Eugene staff had been playfully reminding him he was closing in on 20-20, but he just took it all in stride. Maldonado told folks Thursday morning he’s “having fun” and that while pitchers up here “can locate a lot better,” it’s not a “big difference.” Well, he certainly located three pitches over the fence later that night!
What’s Next For Eugene And This Unstoppable Force
Maldonado’s huge night is a massive highlight in what’s already a stellar year for him and his team. The Emeralds were the first-half champs of the Northwest League, and they’re currently just a half-game behind Vancouver in the second half standings. No matter what, they’re heading to the league championship for a best-of-five series kicking off on September 8. This 22-year-old outfielder already helped San Jose win a California League championship last September, so he knows how to thrive when the stakes are high. Watching him develop in a winning environment like this? That’s the best kind of progress you can ask for. Get ready, September is gonna be wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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